Ski brake mechanism

ABSTRACT

A brake mechanism adapted to be secured to a ski for braking the ski, wherein the components of a locking element-pawl arrangement of the brake mechanism employed for retaining the braking element in an arresting- and preparatory position are arranged at the bottom or base region of the braking element and in a bearing or mounting body connected with the ski.

United States Patent [191 Martin [451 Aug. 12, 1975 [54] SKI BRAKE MECHANISM [76] Inventor: Hans Martin, Wildenstrasse 25,

Oberwil, Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 21] Appl. No.: 338,224

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 8, 1972 Switzerland 3386/72 Feb. 13, 1973 Switzerland 2030/73 [52] US. Cl 280/11.13 B; 280/11.13 B [51} Int. Cl. A63c 7/10 [58] Field of Search ..280/11.13 B. 11.13 C. 280/11.13 D, 11.37 G

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,048,418 8/1962 Gertsch 280/11.13 B

3,433,494 3/1969 Hinterholzer 280/11.13 B 3,704,024 11/1972 Martin 280/1 1.13 B

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 459,218 11/1950 ltaly 280/11.37 B

147,832 7/1936 Germany 280/11.13 B

Primary Examiner-David Schonberg Assistant Examiner-David M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or FirmWerner W. Kleeman [5 7 ABSTRACT A brake mechanism adapted to be secured to a ski for braking the ski, wherein the components of a locking element-pawl arrangement of the brake mechanism employed for retaining the braking element in an arrestingand preparatory position are arranged at the bottom or base region of the braking element and in a bearing or mounting body connected with the ski.

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PATENTED AUG] 21975 SHEET 3 SKI BRAKE MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of brake mechanism which can be attached to a ski and constitutes an improvement upon the ski brake mechanism disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 3,704,024, granted Nov. 28, 1972, and entitled: Brake Mechanism Attached to a Ski.

In particular, the aforementioned brake mechanism which can be secured to a ski is of the type incorporating at least one brake element which upon removal of the ski boot out of the ski binding automatically shifts from a position above the running surface of the ski downwardly into a braking position, and therefore engages or grips into the snow for the purpose of generating a braking force upon the runaway ski. The brake mechanism incorporates a retaining or holding element which can be actuated by the ski boot and serves to retain the braking element in a preparatory position wherein upon release of the retaining element the brake element assumes its braking position. Additionally, the brake mechanism further incorporates a respective arrestingand preparatory locking element connected with the braking element, adjustable pawl members which are operably associated with the retaining or holding element and intended to be brought into engagement with the arrestingand preparatory locking elements as well as at least one spring at the retaining element which works against the pressure of the ski boot, wherein upon actuating the retaining element by the ski boot the pawl releases the arresting locking element and the other pawl engages with the release locking element for the purpose of assuming the preparatory position for release of the brake element.

The improved locking element-pawl arrangement of this development also can be employed in a brake mechanism having two brake elements which when assuming their braking position extend to both sides beneath the running surface of the ski.

With the known brake mechanisms which are secured to a ski there is present the drawback that the components fabricated from metal of the brake mechanism protrude to a relatively great extent above the top surface of the ski. In particular, the braking jaws and the holding elements for such braking jaws generally constitute sharp and pointed components which, upon release of the ski boot from the ski, can be dangerous to the skier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages which are present with prior art ski brake mechanisms.

It is another and more specific object of the present invention to provide a new and improved construction of ski brake wherein the components required for mounting the brake element or elements extend only to a slight extent over the top surface of the ski and the brake jaws are designed in such a manner that they do not constitute any potential source of danger for the skier.

Now in order to implement these and still further ob jects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the invention contemplates a ski brake mechanismwherein the components of the locking element-pawl arrangement of BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a brake mechanism arranged behind an automatic heel step-in safety binding, wherein the control device of the brake mechanism for the automatic release of the arrested position of the brake element and the transfer thereof into the preparatory position is arranged at the region of the ski boot;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view taken from behind the brake mechanism of FIG. 1 with a released brake element which is located in its braking position whereas the arrested position has been depicted in broken or phantom lines;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are respective sectional views through the locking element-pawl arrangement along the line IV IV in FIG. 2; FIG. 4a depicting the arrested position of the brake element and FIG. 4b show ing the preparatory position thereof, there also being depicted a part of the control device for the automatic release of the preparatory position and the transfer of the brake mechanism into the braking position;

FIG. 5 is a view looking from the rear of a brake mechanism with a traction cable for displacing the brake element from its ski braking position into its arrested position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the brake mechanism depicted in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 6, taken substantially along the line VIIVII thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 reference character 1 generally designates any suitable and therefore not particularly described conventional safety ski binding, such as an automatic heel step-in safety binding which can be opened or released by depressing a release or actuating lever 4 mounted at a pivot shaft or axis 3. The automatic heel step-in binding 1 is mounted so that it may be either lengthwise adjustable or fixed at a base or mounting plate 7. The base or mounting plate 7, in the arrangement of FIG. 1, carries at its elongated rear portion 8 a ski brake mechanism, generally designated by reference character 10. In front of the base plate 7 there is secured a ski boot sole receiving ledge or plate 11 for convenient placement of the ski boot thereon.

As best seen by referring to FIG. 2, the ski brake 10 also can be secured separate from the base or mounting plate 7 by means of a base or bottom plate 9 to the surface of the ski. With the large number of safety ski bindings which are employed at the present time, the separate mounting arrangement constitutes the most generally employed arrangement,

The ski brake or brake mechanism is mounted at a bearing or mounting body 2 which is constructed in the form of a web 2a of relatively small height and ar ranged transversely with respect to the ski 5. The bearing body 2 has associated therewith an auxiliary web 2". At the web components 2 and 2", there is installed an actuation spring for the brake elements 16 and 17 embodying the brake jaws 16a and 17a respectively, and the locking element-pawl arrangement, as will be described more fully hereinafter in conjunction with FIGS. 4a and 4b.

In order to actuate the ski brake 10, in other words for the automatic transfer thereof from the arrested position into the preparatory position, and as soon as the ski boot is placed into the ski binding, there is provided a control device or element, generally designated by reference character 12, and which establishes a con nection between the non-illustrated ski boot and ski brake 10. The control device 12 incorporates a suitable traction or pressure element which is subjected to.

spring force and extends to the region of the ski brake 10, as best seen by referring to FIG. 2. At both rear ends 23 of such tractionor pressure element 15 there is secured an arm or bracket 24 which engages by means of a pin 25 at a beam 26. Beam 26 is connected with bolts 28 which can be adjustably secured by means of a threaded element 28 and a counter nut member 29. Further, it will be noted that the control device 12 possesses at the region of the ski boot a bracket 19 which is pivotably mounted at the ledge or plate 11, this bracket 19 being connected by means of a tension band 18 flexed at its ends with the zigzag spring 20. The spring 20 is arranged in a recess 21 of the ledge or plate 11. The spring 20 strives to displace the element 15 to the right of FIG. 2, so that the bracket 19 is raised. Upon stepping down upon the bracket 19 against the action of the spring 20 the transmission element 15 with the members 24, 25, 26 arranged at the ends 23 are displaced towards the left, and the sleeve 33 is shifted out of the bore 30 and thus there is released the arrested position.

From the showing of FIG. 3, there can be especially recognized the contour or shape of the brake jaws 16a and 17a of the brake elements 16 and 17 respectively which are joumalled to the shafts 32a connected with the torsion springs. In the arrested position, the respective serrated teeth or zigzag portions 16b and 17b are located over one another whereas the arms 16 and 17 thereof are located adjacent one another and are designed to be at least twice as wide as the width of the brake jaws 16a and 17a. In this way it is possible to completely fabricate the brake jaws 16a and 17a from plastic, thereby considerably minimizing the danger of accidents.

The locking element-pawl arrangement can be best seen by referring to FIG. 4a and 4b. The bolt 28 which is actuated by the control device 12, is guided in a locking bore 30 at the auxiliary web 2" and possesses at its free end a stepped portion 31 which forms the locking portion for establishing the preparatory position of the brake jaws l6 and 17. The torsion spring 32, which is accommodated in the web 2, is operatively connected via the shafts 32a with the brake elements 16 and 17 and brings such, upon release from the preparatory position, into their braking position as the same has been depicted in FIG. 3. As best seen by referring to FIGS.

l, 2, 4a and 4b at the foot or base of the brake jaw arms 16 and 17 there is mounted a bevelled bushing or sleeve 33 having the bevel 36 and which is guided so as to be non-rotatable but axially displaceable within a bushing or sleeve 34. In the bushing 34 there is arranged a pressure or compression spring 35, the spring force of which acts upon the sleeve or bushing 33 and presses such towards the auxiliary web 2". During the transition from the arrested to the the preparatory position the brake element moves slightly to raise the sleeve 33 out of alignment with the bushing 34. As shown in FIG. 4b the bevel 36 of the sleeve then bears against the wall of the web 2".

In the arrested position, which has been depicted in FIG. 4a, the sleeve 33 engages in the bore 30, whereas in the preparatory position in which the axis of the sleeve 33 is located somewhat higher than the axis of the bolt 28, the preparatory pawl of the bolt 28 engages in the bore of the sleeve 33 and thus retains the brake jaws in their preparatory position.

Since the arrangement of the components as depicted in FIG. 4b occurs upon depressing the control device 12, when the ski boot leaves the ski binding the bolt 28 can thus assume the position depicted in FIG. 4a, whereby the sleeve 33 with its bevelled portion 36 is released, with the result that the brake jaws are rocked owing to the force of the torsion springs 32 into their braking position.

Now in FIGS. 5 to 7 there is depicted a further exemplary embodiment of brake mechanism designed according to the teachings of this development.

Here the bearing body 2 is secured in any suitable and therefore not particularly illustrated manner to the top surface of the ski 5, for instance by means of screws. At the bearing body 2 there are rotatably mounted upon bolts 7' two brake elements, of which for convenience in illustration only the one brake element 60 has been illustrated.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there are depicted the means rendering it possible to simultaneously bring the brake elements 60 out of their brake position into their arrested position. To this'end, there is employed a tension or traction cable which is entrained by means of both of its ends about a respective pin 76 which is fixedly connected with the associated brake element 60, and which together with the brake element 60 is rotatably mounted upon the bolts 7', so that upon drawing up the cable 75 by means of a pull ring 77 or the like both of the brake elements are simultaneously brought from the braking position, against the action of a tfirsion spring 74 acting as a pivot spring for the' corresponding brake element 60, into the arrested position.

The bearing body 2 advantageously can be a part of an attachment plate 78 secured to the ski 5, this attachment plate 78 also carrying the heel portion 79 of a ski binding provided with a release lever 80.

Continuing, it is to be understood that reference characters 63' and 64 respectively constitute the arresting pawl 63 and the preparatory pawl 64 which cooperate with a portion 60 of the braking element 60, and the function of which has been described in detail in my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,024. The pawl 63 is resiliently mounted in horizontal position in a body 81 connected with the bearing body 2 and upon tion, unless of course the braking element 60 is again depressed. To this end, there is provided a holddown bolt 82 which is secured to the braking element 60, wherein however it is necessary to release the holding or retaining bracket 73 in order that the preparatory pawl 64 can be displaced back by the spring loaded arresting pawl 63'.

The holddown bolt 82 is advantageously actuated by the release lever 80 of the heel portion of the ski binding. If for the purpose of climbing out of the ski bind ing, the release lever 80 is depressed, then the holddown bolt 82 and therefore the brake element 60 are depressed, so that is can engage with the arresting pawl 63'. As soon as the brake element 60 has engaged with the arresting pawl 63, then the release lever 80 can be released. In this manner there is attained the result that upon climbing out of the ski there is avoided release of the brake mechanism.

The holddown bolt 82 also could be secured to the release lever 80 and upon depression thereof pushes down the brake element 60.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. A brake mechanism adapted to be secured to a ski having a safety ski binding for braking the ski, comprising at least one braking element which upon release of the ski boot from the ski binding is automatically movable from a preparatory braking position, disposed above the running surface of the ski, downwardly into a ski braking position, to thereby engage the snow for the purpose of exerting a braking force upon the ski, a control element actuable upon inserting the ski boot into the ski binding for retaining said braking element in a preparatory braking position constituting a nonbraking position, so that upon release of said control element said braking element moves from said preparatory braking position into said ski braking position, said braking element assuming an arrested position for convenient transport and storage during non-use of the ski, a locking element-pawl arrangement having components for holding said braking element in the arrested and preparatory braking positions, the improvement comprising; a bearing body including transverse web means extending upwardly from the ski for mounting said braking element, said braking element having an arm including a transversely extending base region,

means for pivotally mounting the braking element about a longitudinal axis on said web means such that said base region of said arm extends adjacent the web means, said means for pivotally mounting including torsion spring means for biasing said braking element to pivot outwardly of the ski;

said components comprising a bolt mounted for longitudinal movement along its axis within a bore in said web means,

means interconnecting said control element and said bolt for simultaneous movement,

said bolt including a stepped end of reduced diameter,

said components further comprising a sleeve mounted for axial and non-rotatable longitudinal movement within said base region of said braking element, a compressed spring within said base region biasing the sleeve to extend from the brake element into said bore in the web means, a second bore in said sleeve sized to receive only said steped end of the bolt, said stepped bolt end having a diameter less than the diameter of said second bore, said sleeve further having a beveled end sloping downwardly away from the web means;

said sleeve when engaging with the first said bore holding the braking element in the arrested position, said control element upon insertion of the ski boot into the ski binding moving said bolt so as to displace the sleeve out of said bore to release the brake from the arrested position of the braking element and to permit the braking element to assume the preparatory position, said sleeve bore in cooperative action with the stepped end of said bolt holding the braking element in the preparatory position, the braking element being pivoted into the braking position upon release of the control ele ment upon departure of the ski boot from the binding and corresponding movement of the stepped end out of said second bore,

2. The brake mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said web means is of low height in relation to the ski binding and arranged transversely with respect to the ski and having an auxiliary web and the components of the locking element-pawl arrangement actuated by the control element being mounted substantially in parallel with respect to the lengthwise axis of the ski.

3. The brake mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the braking element incorporates both said arm and a brake jaw connected therewith said brake jaw possesses a width which does not exceed the width of the ski and in its ski braking position said brake jaw extends beneath the ski as well as laterally therefrom.

4. The brake mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein the arm has at least double the longitudinal thickness of the brake jaw.

5. The brake mechanism as defined in claim 1, having two braking elements, said components of the locking element-pawl arrangement including a pair of said bolts connected by a common beam, and said control element incorporating means engaging with the beam for displacing said bolts. 

1. A brake mechanism adapted to be secured to a ski having a safety ski binding for braking the ski, comprising at least one braking element which upon release of the ski boot from the ski binding is automatically movable from a preparatory braking position, disposed above the running surface of the ski, downwardly into a ski braking position, to thereby engage the snow for the purpose of exerting a braking force upon the ski, a control element actuable upon inserting the ski boot into the ski binding for retaining said braking element in a preparatory braking position constituting a non-braking position, so that upon release of said control element said braking element moves from said preparatory braking position into said ski braking position, said braking element assuming an arrested position for convenient transport and storage during non-use of the ski, a locking element-pawl arrangement having components for holding said braking element in the arrested and preparatory braking positions, the improvement comprising; a bearing body including transverse web means extending upwardly from the ski for mounting said braking element, said braking element having an arm including a transversely extending base region, means for pivotally mounting the braking element about a longitudinal axis on said web means such that said base region of said arm extends adjacent the web means, said means for pivotally mounting including torsion spring means for biasing said braking element to pivot outwardly of the ski; said components comprising a bolt mounted for longitudinal movement along its axis within a bore in said web means, means interconnecting said control element and said bolt for simultaneous movement, said bolt including a stepped end of reduced diameter, said components further comprising a sleeve mounted for axial and non-rotatable longitudinal movement within said base region of said braking element, a compressed spring within said base region biasing the sleeve to extend from the brake element into said bore in the web means, a second bore in said sleeve sized to receive only said steped end of the bolt, said stepped bolt end having a diameter less than the diameter of said second bore, said sleeve further having a beveled end sloping downwardly away from the web means; said sleeve when engaging with the first said bore holding the braking element in the arrested position, said control element upon insertion of the ski boot into the ski binding moving said bolt so as to displace the sleeve out of said bore to release the brake from the arrested position of the braking element and to permit the braking element to assume the preparatory position, said sleeve bore in cooperative action with the stepped end of said bolt holding the braking element in the preparatory position, the braking element being pivoted into the braking position upon release of the control element upon departure of the ski boot from the binding and corresponding movement of the stepped end out of said second bore.
 2. The brake mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said web means is of low height in relation to the ski binding and arranged transversely with respect to the ski and having an auxiliary web and the components of the locking element-pawl arrangement actuated by the control element being mounted substantially in parallel with respect to the lengthwise axis of the ski.
 3. The brake mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the braking element incorporates both said arm and a brake jaw connected therewith said brake jaw possesses a width which does not exceed the width of the ski and in its ski braking position said brake jaw extends beneath the ski as well as laterally therefrom.
 4. The brake mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein the arm has at least double the longitudinal thickness of the brake jaw.
 5. The brake mechanism as defined in claim 1, having two braking elements, said components of the locking element-pawl arrangement including a pair of said bolts connected by a common beam, and said control element incorporating means engaging with the beam for displacing said bolts. 